Front apron construction for carry-type earth scoop



B. F. OWEN Oct. 20, 1953 FRONT APRON CONSTRUCTION FOR CARRY-TYPE EARTH SCOOP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 3, 1950 INVENTOR. BY en F Owen 5. F. OWEN Oct. 20, 1953 FRONT APRON CONSTRUCTION FOR CARRY-TYPE EARTH SCOOP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June INVENTOR. BY Ben l: Owen uni Patented Oct. 20, 1953 FRONT APRON CONSTRUCTION FOR CARRY-TYPE EARTH SCOOP Ben F. Owen, Omaha, Nebr.

Application June 3, 1950, Serial No. 165,955

2 Claims.

This invention relates to earth digging and handling implements, and. in particular a hydraulically actuated scoop, carried by a frame mounted on wheels and having a tractor hitch at the forward end whereby with the frame drawn by a tractor the scoop is actuated by a hydraulic cylinder to a scooping position for scooping up earth, to a carrying position for hauling, and also to a dumping position.

The purpose of this invention is to improve the construction of hydraulic earth moving scoops whereby the power of a hydraulic cylinder is directly applied to actuating levers for shifting the position of the scoop and whereby the position of the wheels may readily be shifted to lengthen the wheel base for high speed hauling.

In the conventional type of earth moving scoop Where the wheels are positioned on the sides of the frame it is diflicult to lower the cutting or digging blade of the scoop sufficiently to excavate a deep trench, and with this thought in mind this invention contemplates a scoop wherein the mounting wheels may be positioned at the rear of the frame whereby the scoop drops downwardly into the excavated part of the trench with the wheels following the scoop.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for constructing an earth moving scoop whereby the position of the scoop is actuated by a hydraulic cylinder to scooping, transporting, and dumping positions, and wherein the wheels may be shifted to the rear for deep scooping and high speed hauling.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved scoop wherein operating instrumentalities thereof extend into and through a wall of the scoop whereby the length of the scoop is materially reduced.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for attaching a flexible sheet across a wall of the scoop to prevent leakage of earth therefrom as the scoop is adjusted from one position to another.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved earth moving scoop in which the position of the scoop is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder, which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a scoop carried by a horizontally disposed frame mounted on wheels in which the parts are so arranged that a smooth even cut is obtained in the soil, the scoop is provided with a comparatively wide front opening, and the construction compensates for variations in the heighth of the hitch of a towing vehicle.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the improved scoop with parts shown in section and with the view taken substantially on line 1-! of Figure 3.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the scoop with the wheels shown in full lines at the rear of the scoop and in dotted lines at the sides of the scoop.

Figure 3 is a plan view also showing the wheels in full lines at the rear and in dotted lines at the sides.

Figure 4 is a detail on an enlarged scale illustrating a wheel mounting and showing a stub axle of one of the wheels in a hub of the frame and in which the hub is shown in section.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved scoop of this invention includes a horizontally disposed frame having side bars It and I2 with rearwardly extended end sections l4 and I6, respectively, and with the end sections connected at the rear ends thereof by a cross channel H3.

The channel I8 is provided with spaced wheel carrying arms 28 and 22, supported laterally by braces 24 and 26, respectively, and at the forward end of the frame the side bars l0 and I2 converge with sections 28 and 30 extended inwardly toward the center of the frame and the converging sections are provided with longitudinally disposed parallel flanges 32 and 3 5, on the upper edges of which are tangs 36 and 38, respectively. A reinforcing bar 4!) is provided between the flanges 32 and 34 and the rear end of the bar 48 is secured to a cross bar 42, a shown in Figure 1. The forward end of the bar 40 is secured, preferably by welding, between the flanges 32 and 3t, and the bend at the intersection of the flanges with the sections 23 and 30 is reinforced by a plate iii on one side and by a similar plate 47 on the opposite side.

A cylinder 48 is positioned on the forward end of the frame with a tongue 53 at the forward end pivotally mounted by a pin 52 between the tangs 36 and 38.'

A hitch 54 is positioned on the forward end of the frame with the bifurcated rear part having arms with eyes 55 at the ends through which the hitch is pivotally mounted by a pin 53. The hitch is provided with a lower tang which is connected to the upper part 54 by a section 62, thereby providing an opening 64 for receiving a tongue of a tractor. The parts 54 and 60 are provided with bolt holes 66 for a connecting bolt or pin.

The hydraulic cylinder 43 is provided with connections 68 and T8 at the ends through which fluid under pressure is supplied from pressure means on the tractor or the like to which the scoop is connected. A flexible hose I2 extends from the connection 68 and a similar hose 14 extends from the connection I0.

The piston of the cylinder, which is positioned between the connections 63 and I0, is provided with a piston rod I6 and when pressure is applied to the forward end of the cylinder through the connection I6 the piston rod travels rearwardly in the direction of the arrow IS. The fluid under pressure is controlled from the tractor and when it is desired to draw the piston rod forwardly the pressure is supplied through the connection 68.

The outer end of the piston rod is provided with a clevis 80 having a bifurcated end the fingers of which are pivotally connected to the upper end of a lever 82 by a pin 84, the lever being mounted on a rocker shaft 86 which is journaled in bearings 88, 90 and 92 on the frame of the machine. The bearings are mounted on a platform plate 44 secured to the upper edges of the side bars I and I2, and also to the bar 40 at the center. The shaft 86 is also provided with upwardly extended arms 94 and 06 and these arms are positioned against the inner faces of the end bearings 60 and 92 to limit lateral movement of the shaft.

The upper ends of the arms 94 and 96 are pivotally connected to links 98 and I02. The arm 94 is provided with side bars 2 and 4 which are connected to the link 98 by a pin I00, and the upper end of the arm 96 is provided with side bars 6 and 8 which are connected to the link I02 by a pin I04.

The scoop positioned in the frame is provided with an arcuate rear wall I06, oppositely posh tioned vertically disposed side walls 08 and H0, and a bottom having an upwardly inclined forward panel H2 and also an upwardly sloping panel H4, as shown in Figure 1. The forward end of the scoop is open.

Outwardly extended clips H6 and II! are provided on the upper corners of the side walls of the scoop and at the rear thereof, and the rear end of the link 98 is pivotally connected to the clip H6 by a pin II8, with the link I02 pivotally connected to the clip I IT by a pin I I0.

Bearing hangers I20 and I2I are mounted on the side bars I0 and I2 of the frame, respectively, by bolts I22 and I23 with the extended end sections I4 and I6 of the frame extending through the hangers and with the ends thereof secured to the side bars by bolts I24 and I25. The bearing hangers extend downwardly below the frame and a shaft or pipe I26 is carried by the depending portions. The shaft I26 is secured to the bottom section I I4 of the scoop by bearings I28 which are secured to the panel II4 by rivets I30. By this means the scoop is pivotally supported in the frame at a point spaced from the rear end thereof. With the parts mounted in this manner a forward pull by the cylinder 48 through the links 08 and I02 draws the upper part of the rear end of the scoop forwardly forcing a blade I32 on the forward edge of the panel II2 downwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. The blade I32 is mounted on the forward edge of the panel H2 by screws I34.

With the scoop in the position shown in full lines in Figure 1, in which it is used for transporting earth and the like, an arcuate forward wall I36 is provided for retaining products in the scoop, and the wall is provided with openings I38 and I40 that are positioned to receive the rear end of the piston rod I6 on which the clevis 80 is carried when the clevis is forced rearwardly by the cylinder 48. A sheet of resilient material I42, such as heavy rubber is secured on the inner surface of the wall I 36 by fasteners I44 at the upper edge and bolts or screws I46 on the lower part, whereby the sheet covers the openings I38 and I40. By this means the end of the piston rod and also the end of the arm 82 may pass through the forward part of the scoop bending and stretching the rubber sheet as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, and without danger of leakage of earth through the said openings, and with these parts passing through the forward end of the scoop it is possible to reduce the overall length of the scoop frame.

Each of the bearing hangers I20 and I2I is provided with an outwardly extended hub I48 that is positioned to receive a stub axle I50 of a wheel I52, and the axles are provided with annular recesses I54 into which the inner ends of set screws I56 extend whereby the wheels are retained in the hubs of the bearing hangers. With the wheels mounted in this manner, as illustrated in Figure 4. the wheels may be removed by turning the set screws outwardly until the inner ends leave the annular recesses.

Mounted on the ends of the arms 20 and 22, at the rear of the frame, by bolts I58 and I50, are arms I60 and I6I, on the outer ends of which are hubs I62 and I63, similar to the hubs I48, and the wheels I52 may be mounted in these hubs, with the stub axles thereof secured in the hubs by set screws similar to the set screws I56. For ordinary use the wheels are mounted in the bearing hangers I20 and I2I at the sides of the frame, and when it is desired to take a deep cut the wheels are changed to the hubs at the rear. The wheels are also positioned at the rear when the scoop is used for hauling, particularly at high speeds.

With the parts arranged in this manner the scoop is normally in the position shown in full lines in Figure 1, where it is suspended above the soil, which is indicated by the numeral I64, and when it is desired to cut the surface of the soil, the scoop is lowered by inward movement of the piston in the cylinder 48 until the blade I32 bites into the soil, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. After the scoop is filled with soil the pressure is applied to the opposite end of the cylinder 48 and the lever 82 is forced rearwardly drawing the scoop upward to the position shown in full lines in Figure 1, whereby the soil is in position for transporting.

In order to dump the load from the scoop, pressure is applied to the hydraulic cylinder 48 to force the levers 94 and 96 rearwardly to the dotted line position indicated by the letter B, at which time the scoop is in the dotted line position C. The scoop may be moved still further for complete dumping by actuating the lever to a further position, rearward, with the cylinder.

With the parts arranged in this manner an improved scoop is provided in which, with the hydraulic control cylinder positioned directly in front of the scoop and mounted on the frame the scoop is actuated with a positive action, and with the position of the wheels changeable the scoop may be used for road work with the wheels at the sides of the frame, and for trench and deep ditch digging with the wheels at the rear. Furthermore with the rear wheels close to the hitch or forward end of the frame as shown in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 3. the vehicle would have a tendency to tip over in turning curves on a road at high speed, so that means is provided for mounting the wheels at the rear of the frame for transportation particularly at high speeds.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a hydraulically actuated scoop or scraper construction in accordanc with this invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that this invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out the invention in practice, except as claimed.

Having thus fully described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a hydraulically actuated dump scoop, the combination which comprises a horizontally disposed substantially rectangular-shape frame having side bars with converging forward ends and having spaced arms extended from .the rear, a hitch carried by the forward ends of the side bars, wheel mounting hubs positioned on the side bars of the frame and on the arms extended from the rear thereof, a pair of wheels having stub shafts for removably mounting the wheels in the hubs of the frame, a transversely disposed shaft positioned below the frame and carried by depending flanges of the hubs, a scoop pivotally mounted by the shaft in the frame, an arcuate transversely disposed web positioned to coact with the forward end of the scoop to form a front wall thereof with the scoop in the position of transporting materials, a hydraulic cylinder positioned on the forward part of the frame, a rocker shaft pivotally mounted on the frame and positioned between the scoop and cylinder, a centrally positioned lever extended upwardly from the rocker shaft, a connecting rod connecting the upper end of the lever to the cylinder, arms extended upwardly from the ends of the rocker shaft, links connecting the upper ends of the arms to the sides of the scoop at points positioned above and spaced forwardly of said shaft with the scoop in an upper horizontally disposed transporting position, the said front wall of the scoop having an opening therein positioned to receive the end of the connecting rod and lever, and a sheet of resilient material extended across the said front wall for receiving the end of the connecting rod and lever to prevent leakage from the scoop in traveling.

2. In a hydraulically actuated dump scoop, the combination which comprises a horizontally disposed rectangular-shape frame having side bars with converging forward ends and having spaced arms extended from the rear, a hitch carried by the converging forward ends of the side bars, wheels, means removab-ly mounting the wheels selectively on the side bars of the frame and also on the arms extended from the rear of the frame, a transversely disposed shaft mounted in the frame, a scoop, means pivotally mounting the scoop by means of the shaft in the frame, a cylinder positioned on the forward end of the frame, means connecting the cylinder to the scoop at points on the side walls thereof positioned above and spaced forwardly of said shaft with the scoop in an upper horizontally disposed transporting position for actuating the scoop to scraping, carrying, and dumping positions, an arcuate plate transversely positioned on the frame and located to coact with the forward end of the scoop to provide a front wall for the scoop with the scoop in the carrying position, said arcuate plate having an opening therein positioned to receive parts of the connecting means between the cylinder and scoop, and a sheet of resilient material extended across the said plate for preventing leakage of materials from the scoop.

BEN F. OWEN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 11,949 Stillson Nov. 14, 1854 148,729 Mayfield Mar. 17, 1874 2,262,283 Henry et a1 Nov. 11, 1941 2,308,534 Paulsen Jan. 19, 1943 2,380,021 Brown et a1 July 10, 1945 

